Everything about the 4A boys' state track meet points to a colossal showdown between four teams--Sierra, Longmont, Mullen, and Cherokee Trail.

Each of the four teams has a powerful presence on the track and a spotty presence in field events. All four teams have solid relays, with Sierra probably having the strongest set of relays. All four teams are a threat to win at least one or two events.

Sierra has leaned heavily all season on Mark Sterling, Kelby Dias, and a lights-out set of relays at 4 X 2, 4 X 4, and 4 X 8. Mullen can hurt you with Andrew Berberick in the distance events, Elliott Beski in the hurdles and pole vault, Jonathan Gaye in the short sprints, and BJ Burton in the 110 hurdles. Cherokee Trail's strengths lie in the relays. To win as a team, their many state qualifiers in the track events will need to score a little above their seeds--don't count them out, however, as they are a team on the rise. For Longmont, it's an outstanding 4 X 400 team, Matt Butcher and Daniel Berry in the sprints, Aaron Praska in the hurdles, and a handful of jumpers and pole vaulters.